South Cambridgeshire

South Cambridgeshire's population expanded between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in housing tenure and work life.

The population reached nearly 150,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of South Cambridgeshire increased by 14%, from about 130,000 to 149,000.

The addition of almost 19,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, South Cambridgeshire was home to, on average, 1.2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was lower than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Health improved

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's well-being.

The percentage of South Cambridgeshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.6% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (86%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 75% in 2001. The percentage of South Cambridgeshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 19% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in South Cambridgeshire decreased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in South Cambridgeshire, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in South Cambridgeshire, but at a slower rate than across Eastof England.

In South Cambridgeshire, the proportion of private renting increased from 8.1% in 2001 to 12% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 8.6% to 15%.

Across England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 9.9% to 17%.

The rate of social housing in South Cambridgeshire remained close to 14%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 75% to 70%.

Private renting in South Cambridgeshire increased by 3.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in South Cambridgeshire, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in South Cambridgeshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (2.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.0% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 15% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in South Cambridgeshire decreased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in South Cambridgeshire, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in South Cambridgeshire

The number of people in South Cambridgeshire from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from just under 570 in 2001 to about 1,300 in 2011. This represents a change from 0.4% to 0.9% of the local population.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people from this ethnic group increased by from 0.9% to 2.1%, while across England the percentage went from 2.4% to 3.6%.

The number of people in South Cambridgeshire from the White ethnic groups increased from about 130,000 in 2001 to about 140,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 97% to 93%. The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 1,700 to just over 5,500 (from 1.3% to 3.7%).

Just over 2,500 people (0.9%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from just over 1,100 in 2001 (1.7%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups in South Cambridgeshire remained close to 0.9%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and South Cambridgeshire by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links